How To Feed A Family Of 4 Off $50 A Week

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Feeding a large family on a budget is no easy task, but that doesn’t make it impossible. It can be easy to hit the grocery store with no preparation and no plan and spend anywhere from $150 to $250 for the week. Luckily, with the right planning and a little bit of creativity, you can slash your grocery bill down to just $50 a week, saving your family $400 to $800 a month.

A number of bloggers have made a splash on the internet chronicling their experiences feeding a family of four for only $50 a week, and you can learn from their advice how to implement the same budget into your grocery shopping and cooking routine.

If you’re looking to cut down on the grocery bill while still providing filling and healthy meals for the whole family, try these tips on how to feed a family of five off of just $50 a week.

1. Put Food That Is Expiring In The Front Of Your Fridge or Pantry

Jody Allen, an expert on maximize your grocery spending and founder of Stay At Home Mum, recommends putting all your food that’s about to expire at the front of your refrigerator or pantry.  This will help make sure you eat them before they go bad.

expiration date photo
Photo by torbakhopper

2. Plan Ahead

Planning your meals at the beginning of the week not only takes the chaos out of grocery shopping, but it allows you to create meals that contain similar ingredients. This can prevent you from wasting food, and it can also help you cut down on ingredients needed so you can spend less at the supermarket.

grocery list photo
Photo by the Italian voice

3. Carry Cash

Using a debit or credit card gives you the option to overspend, but if you carry cash, you’ll be forced to spend only as much as you have on you, suggests Money Saving Mom. Bring only $50 to the grocery store, and you’ll be sure to only leave with $50 worth of groceries.

cash photo
Photo by 401(K) 2013

4. Shop Weekly

Things change week to week, from your schedule to who’s home, to even your appetite. Shopping weekly can help you adjust to these changes, as what you need week to week can differ. If you need less food one week, put part of that allowance towards the next week and work accordingly. Shopping weekly rather than monthly also allows you to eat more fresh whole foods without them going bad.

grocery store photo
Photo by USDAgov

5.  Avoid Big Supermarkets When Possible

Allen also recommends to avoid traditional supermarkets when buying meat, fruit and vegetables.  She’s foudn that you can get better prices when buying directly from the growers.

farmers market photo
Photo by NatalieMaynor

6. Check Your Inventory

Nothing is worse than buying a bag of pasta when you already have two in the cabinet, so make sure you’re aware of what’s in your pantry before hitting the grocery store. Use a list or excel sheet to keep track of what you have and what you need to make organization easier.

pantry photo
Photo by EatLiveGrowPaleo.com

7. Utilize Sales

Whether you’re clipping coupons or visiting multiple grocery stores to get the best deals, pay attention to what’s on sale and what place has the cheaper option. Pay attention to weekly promotions, and plan your meals around these specific deals.

sale photo
Photo by timparkinson

8. Buy In Bulk

Purchase nutrient-dense foods such as rice, beans, or even meat in bulk, and store them in your pantry or in your freezer. These options are often less expensive when bought in larger quantities, and they can last a while, which can help cut down on your budget later on.

rice photo
Photo by cookbookman17

 

Photo by pmsyyz

Food, Money

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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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